3SGE BEAMS converted 89 E30///Stock as a rock 88 E30 325i Touring///

[kameleon]

Doh!

The Beams is a front sump, but it is nowhere near as low as the stock BMW sits.

Choosing 6kg/8kg for the suspension was risky as i had not seen many people using it but it works well with the weight of the Beams. What castor arms are you using? M3 bushes is all i will fit on mine.

[Cal]

That is one of the reasons I ran 215/45/16 tyres. I have raised mine slightly from that photo above. I smashed the sump last year and decided then it was a bit low. I left the rear though.

I also run 6kg front 8kg rear springs. I'm happy with the choice. I also put adjustable front castor arms on it.

[kameleon]

Got the shifter done today. Welded the orginal BMW shifter internal metal (inside the insulated aluminium sleeve) to the Toyota gear lever which i bent straight in a vice. I now have a gearstick that is aligned properly (forgot to take a picture?)

Fitted the insulating boot and the interior is alot quieter now. The gearknob will have to wait for the time being as i cannot fit the aluminium sleeve back onto it to fit the original gearknob i wanted to.

How i had to drive it to the shop this morning.


Some pics outside the shop waiting for my mate to open. Which brings me to the next issue....

The car is way way too low at this ride height for Melbourne roads and speed humps. It rides great on the spring rates and at this height however it is just not practical and i scraped everywhere today (i have had many lowered cars so i know how to manovere) so it will have to be raised.




Did not have time to fit the castor rod bushes nor adjust the sway bar (custom item will have to be made to get it back to a horizontal setup height, as it hits the bellhousing otherwise)

Had a good time driving it out and about today though!

[kameleon]

There are some pics some pages back, look quite crap. atm looking at a two piece setup that holds from behind or a plug with o-ring groove. Last resort is cutting and sanding the plastic seat map clips then finishing the face the same colour as the wheel etc.

[Cal]

Yeah I can see that. I guess like you are figuring out, it's not going to be easy to hold something in there. What do they look like with nothing? I generally don't run centre caps on most of my other cars as I usually think they look crap.

[kameleon]

Thats not a hijack all good.

They suit your wheels. i just dont like them on my wheels being "non flush" with the centre of the wheel, to me it detracks from the look of the wheel rim.

[Cal]

Sorry for the thread hijack again. I found these on ebay real cheap and trimmed them down a little to fit inside the XXR caps.

[kameleon]

Headlights are back in with the powdercoated black rings and the HID kit (work great but are very bright, so no point of pictures) the light pattern looks great.




The front is a little rough around the edges still. I will be painting the grilles black too.

Also have been randomly trying round things in the wheels to see if i can use anything as a cap (i HATE the XXR caps, they ruin the wheels imho) and i had these E92 floor mat clips in my hand and they fit perfectly hahaha. I will get some proper caps made but these work well as a template.

[Cal]

Cheers mate.

Yeah even down to both choosing black wheels! Great minds and all that.

[kameleon]

Nice ride Cal. I have retained tge stock hollow alloy Beams mount plates from the block to stock Altezza engine mounts that bolt to custom plates welded to the original E30 crossmember. I dont actually have a template of this im affraid.

Funny how the cars are and will be so similar, goodluck with your swap!

[e30guydownunder]

doooooooooo ittttttttttttttttttttttt

[Cal]

I just found your thread while searching for Beams powered E30 info. I have a red 318is which cracked the head on the M42 last week. Many of the mods are the same as your car. I also have BC Racing BR coilover, XXR rims, 4.1 LSD ect. i think now is a good time to ditch the M42 for a Beams.

Did you end up making extra engine mounts? I have found a 3SGE front cut now.

Here is mine.

[kameleon]

A/C and everything else works factory as it did in the Altezza. The car was compared to a stock genuine Altezza to make sure everything was running 100%

This car actually ran better than the factory car so we were quite happy with that.

No need for a reflash or anything like that. The car also has power steering still (Beams pump, BMW everything else)

[Gruelius]

Cool build!

when i finish doing the turbo e30 i might build one of these for a wicked daily... you planning to keep AC? and how does the factory ECU like being out of the standard car? did you need to flash it e.t.c.?

[kameleon]

Cut off the insulated upper sleeve of the shifter (prick of a job....)



And this is how it looks when in 2nd gear



The shifter factory has a bend in it that must be because the gearbox is on a slight angle in the factory car. So i will have to cut and shut this and add the BMW top section.


A guy at work had a car accident in his E30 some time ago so i raided some bits from it before it headed to the wreckers. So now i have a complete tool kit.



HID kit arrived too





Looking at the headlights to put them back together, i will need new pivot cups as the old ones are breaking on removal.

I also test fitted some roof racks i got from the smashed E30 too. They will come in handy for when the car goes to the track to lug the tyres around.

Pretty 80's though.